Prisoners: key points

  • Scotland continues to have one of the highest imprisonment rates in Western Europe. In April 2023, it had 138 prisoners per 100,000 population.
  • The average daily prison population in Scotland remains lower than pre-pandemic levels and consistently between 7,300 and 7,600. As at 1st April 2023 it was 7,507.
  • The number of people in prison on remand remains at a historic high. As at 1st April 2023 those on remand represented 28% of the prison population.
  • The majority of the prison population identify as white (94%), single (78%), heterosexual (92%), males (96%). The median age of those in prison Oct-Dec 2022 was 36.9 years.
  • There is an increasing population of older people with complex social and health care needs. The proportion aged 55 years or over has more than doubled over the past 10 years.
  • Women continue to represent around 4% of the prison population. A reduction in the number of women being sentenced is driving an increase in the proportion on remand (36% as at April 2023).
  • The numbers of young people (under 21 years) in prison continue to fall year-on-year, and represented less than 3% of the total prison population in 2021/22.
  • 71% prisoners tested positive for illegal drugs on admission to prison in 2018/19, with 26% testing positive on liberation.
  • In 2019 40% prisoners reported being drunk at the time of their offence, similar to the value reported in 2017 (39%)

Section updates:

  • The last update of this section was completed in June 2023.
  • The next major update is due to be carried out by May 2024